A 15-year-old unlicensed driver was cited by the Jackson Police Department after striking a tree with his mother's Ford Excursion. His mother allowed her son to drive to pick up his younger brother.(Will Forgrave | MLive.com)

JACKSON, MI – An unlicensed 15-year-old driver from Jackson was cited after his mother allowed him to drive her Ford Excursion to pick up his younger brother and struck a tree on his way back home.

The teen hit a tree at Randolph Street and West Avenue about 3:30 p.m. Sunday.

Jonathan and Rebecca Wills of Jackson, who reside at 722 Randolph St., witnessed the accident.

"We heard the car hit our tree and came outside to see two pre-teens driving. There's no way they could have been old enough to drive," Rebecca Wills said, before her husband explained the car wouldn't start after striking the tree and that police officers arrived on the scene shortly after the couple called 911.

Jackson Police Department Sgt. Robert Jenks said the 15-year-old was cited for unlicensed driving and careless driving. His mother was also cited for allowing her son to drive without a license.

"It's a misdemeanor, so it will be up to the judge as to what the punishment for the mother and son may be," he said.

Nobody was injured in the accident.

Contact Will Forgrave at wforgrav@mlive.com or 517-262-7554. Follow him on Twitter at @WillForgrave.